Reasons for the Reasons for the United States’ United States’ entry into WWIentry into WWI

1.1. IsolationismIsolationism

A policy of avoiding foreign alliancesA policy of avoiding foreign alliances

The U.S. had no interest getting involved The U.S. had no interest getting involved in a European War, so the U.S. avoided in a European War, so the U.S. avoided making any alliances with a country. making any alliances with a country.

The U.S. government wanted The U.S. government wanted neutralityneutrality, , the policy of not choosing sides in a the policy of not choosing sides in a war, but wanted to continue to TRADE war, but wanted to continue to TRADE with all countries of The Allies and with all countries of The Allies and Central PowersCentral Powers

2. Submarine Warfare2. Submarine WarfareSinking of the LusitaniaSinking of the Lusitania

The German U-Boats sunk American trade The German U-Boats sunk American trade ships. When the Germans sunk the ships. When the Germans sunk the LusitaniaLusitania, it killed, it killed 128 Americans. The 128 Americans. The Sussex Sussex sinking injures Americans, leading sinking injures Americans, leading to a pledge by Germany to end submarine to a pledge by Germany to end submarine warfare.warfare.

3. The Zimmerman Note3. The Zimmerman Note A telegram from the German Ambassador to A telegram from the German Ambassador to

Mexico asking them to fight the AmericansMexico asking them to fight the Americans

In this note, the U.S. government intercepted a In this note, the U.S. government intercepted a letter from Germany stating if Mexico joined letter from Germany stating if Mexico joined the Central Powers, and the U.S. joined the the Central Powers, and the U.S. joined the Allies, then Germany would help Mexico gain Allies, then Germany would help Mexico gain the land lost in the Mexican-American War.the land lost in the Mexican-American War.

President Wilson asks President Wilson asks Congress to Congress to

Declare war on Germany Declare war on Germany April 1917April 1917He stated that Germany He stated that Germany

could never be an ally could never be an ally and Americans should and Americans should go to war to protect go to war to protect their own freedom their own freedom and freedom of and freedom of smaller nations. smaller nations. Remember, only Remember, only Congress can declare Congress can declare war.war.

Mobilizing for the WarMobilizing for the War

In April 1917, the U.S. had only In April 1917, the U.S. had only 200,000 men in the military and little 200,000 men in the military and little equipment to give them.equipment to give them.

The Selective Service Act was passed in The Selective Service Act was passed in May. This required all men between the May. This required all men between the ages of 21 & 30 register for the draft, ages of 21 & 30 register for the draft, which is required military service.which is required military service.

By June, 10 million registered for the By June, 10 million registered for the draft and about 3 million men were draft and about 3 million men were drafted.drafted.

Selective Service ActSelective Service Act

What is mobilization?What is mobilization?

Mobilization Mobilization means getting means getting other people other people involved.involved.

This man could have This man could have gone out alonegone out aloneto rescue one or two to rescue one or two drowning men.drowning men.Instead he is alerting Instead he is alerting (mobilizing) others(mobilizing) othersto become part of his to become part of his rescue force. rescue force.

Russian RevolutionRussian Revolution

Communism takes over Russia with Communism takes over Russia with the murder of the Russian czar and the murder of the Russian czar and his family.his family.

Russia now signs a peace treaty with Russia now signs a peace treaty with GermanyGermany

Allied forces force Germany to Allied forces force Germany to retreat and end the warretreat and end the war

Fourteen PointsFourteen Points President Wilson’s suggestions for world President Wilson’s suggestions for world

peacepeace No more secret alliancesNo more secret alliances A reduction in armaments (war materials)A reduction in armaments (war materials) Freedom of the seasFreedom of the seas A fair settlement of the disputes over A fair settlement of the disputes over

coloniescolonies Removal of economic barriers among Removal of economic barriers among

nationsnations A world organization that would provide a A world organization that would provide a

system of security for all nations = League system of security for all nations = League of Nationsof Nations

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

Treaty that Treaty that endedended World War I World War I The rulers of the 4 main allies, The rulers of the 4 main allies,

France, Britain, Italy and the U.S., France, Britain, Italy and the U.S., dominate the conference. They’re dominate the conference. They’re known as the “Big Four”known as the “Big Four”

Pres. Wilson wanted peace, but the Pres. Wilson wanted peace, but the others wanted revenge = territory; others wanted revenge = territory; landland

The League of Nations is createdThe League of Nations is created

Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles

Germany must do the following:Germany must do the following:

1.1. Take full blame for the warTake full blame for the war

2.2. Surrender territory to surrounding Surrender territory to surrounding nationsnations

3.3. Give up its coloniesGive up its colonies

4.4. Reduce the size of its militaryReduce the size of its military

5.5. Pay reparations for the war. Pay reparations for the war. Reparations are payments made for Reparations are payments made for war expenses and damageswar expenses and damages

European Map before World War I

European map European map afterafter WWI WWI

Consequences Consequences and Effects of and Effects of

WWIWWI

PoliticalPolitical

Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire gave up parts of their Ottoman Empire gave up parts of their land. Much of Eastern Germany will land. Much of Eastern Germany will become the nation of POLAND.become the nation of POLAND.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire The Austro-Hungarian Empire disappeared. The empire was made disappeared. The empire was made into the countries of Austria, Hungary, into the countries of Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and SerbiaCzechoslovakia, and Serbia

EconomicEconomic

Remember that The Treaty of Remember that The Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany had Versailles stated that Germany had to pay for the war? The Germans to pay for the war? The Germans couldn’t pay at once, only in couldn’t pay at once, only in installments. installments.

SocialSocial

The war reparations (payments) The war reparations (payments) Germany was forced to pay Germany was forced to pay embarrassed, HUMILIATED the German embarrassed, HUMILIATED the German people.people.

When German dictator Adolf Hitler rises When German dictator Adolf Hitler rises to power, he uses this bitterness to begin to power, he uses this bitterness to begin WWII.WWII.

Question: What country does Germany Question: What country does Germany invade to begin WWII?invade to begin WWII?

Answer: PolandAnswer: Poland

After the war in the U.S.After the war in the U.S.

RedRed ScareScare-- fear that a communist fear that a communist revolution would come to America.revolution would come to America.

In communism, the workers own the In communism, the workers own the factories. Everyone has a job factories. Everyone has a job regardless of job performance, and regardless of job performance, and everyone gets paid what they need everyone gets paid what they need to live. This way, there is no reason to live. This way, there is no reason to work hard.to work hard.

Palmer Raids- arrests of immigrants, Palmer Raids- arrests of immigrants, mostly Russians, in 1919 who were mostly Russians, in 1919 who were suspected of being communists. suspected of being communists. They were accused of a series of They were accused of a series of bombings across the U.S.bombings across the U.S.